Aldrich is an eight-year veteran of the NBA, playing for six different teams. This doesn’t include his most recent stint with the Hawks considering he never got on the floor for a preseason game.

Although Aldrich will be playing in China, his NBA career may not be over. Players often play in the Chinese league and return to the NBA. The CBA regular season ends in February, so it’s conceivable that Aldrich could sign with a team for the final stretch of the season. He could even sign in time to be eligible for the playoffs.

Aldrich’s minutes with the Minnesota Timberwolves last season were scarce despite signing a three-year, $21.9 million contract in 2016. Minnesota regretted that decision in the long run. In June 2018, they waived and stretched the deal to mitigate the cap hit Aldrich would have on their bottom line.

In his two seasons, Aldrich only played in 83 games, averaging seven minutes per game. It became apparent early on in Aldrich’s tenure that he was being overpaid.

Aldrich will look to rejuvenate his career overseas and come back stronger in 2019. He turns 30 in October and may be running out of chances in the NBA. How he plays in China could help decide his future.